Don Aker's The First Stone

The controversial topic of nurture versus nature is evidently displayed in the novel “The First Stone” by Don Aker. Many may say it is the environment that one is raised in that shapes who one grows up to be. Although, others can argue that it is one’s character traits that are inherited from your ancestors. However, in the book “The First Stone”, nature has a major impact on Reef Kennedy’s future, Additionally, Reef had a very rough past, constantly being cursed at by his drunk grandfather and witnessing his grandmother get burned by a monstrous disease. He felt isolated from society and was in need of a nurturing environment which he never received. Moreover, love, care, and support are three of many things that raise a child to their fullest potential. Growing up, Reef did not have anyone to give him moral sense. As the young teen evolved in an injurious …show more content…
During his childhood, Reef was not disciplined accordingly, resulting in his disrespectful behaviour in the future. Furthermore, nobody is born with the trait to respect others or themselves, as it depends on the quality of their past nurture to determine if they will do so. In the book Reef stated, “Jesus, Scar, whaddya want me to do? Visit her? Hold her hand? What’s done is done. Ain’t nothin’ I can do about it now. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t” (Aker, 46). This quote demonstrates how careless Reef had become due to the fact that he was not disciplined well as a child. Because he lacked strict regulations in his youth, he never understood the feel of remorse for after injuring Leeza, or the consequences. Evidently, in this quote Reef shows frustration when being forced to think about the outcome of the crime he committed, demonstrating how he had no desire to alleviate the issue that he had created, preventing him from improving and changing his ways.